You're wrong.
And you're kind of making a fool of yourself.
“You’re wrong.”
That’s what my 7-year-old son told me. I can’t tell you when he said that exactly, because as a 7-year-old I hear it a lot. Sometimes regarding the tiniest things.
It could be arbitrary facts about the solar system.
When his next field trip is.
What level he is in his video game.
My point is, several times throughout the week my son insists that I am wrong and he is right. All this despite the fact that I am, in fact, correct about whatever it is we’re discussing.
Parents, you know what I’m talking about.
So why am I telling you this? Because as my pastor preached his sermon this weekend, something he said led me to think about this phenomenon. I find it funny that so often, despite me knowing plenty more than my young son, he insists that he is right and I am wrong—sometimes (perhaps many times) despite me bringing up strong evidence to the contrary. It can be quite frustrating, because he doesn’t have a grasp of the bigger picture, or know all the facts, or even have a context sometimes to understand the full reality.
And as I thought about this, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is this how God feels? How often I am my 7-year-old son when it comes to arguing with God?
The truth is you and I really think we have it all figured out, don't we? We are my 7-year-old son, arguing with God about what is right and wrong, many times despite the evidence to the contrary. And we don’t have the full picture. We don’t have the full context. We don’t have all the facts. But yet we insist that we are right and he is wrong.
I’m reminded of the Bible verses in Isaiah 55:8-9.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Friend, I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but chances are you’ve got a little 7-year-old in you. I know I do. You’re arguing with God and insisting that you’re right. And you’re not.
What do we do about that? I think it comes down to one word: trust. If we truly trust, then we can accept what he’s saying and doing even if we don't agree. Even if we don’t see the way forward. Can I challenge you, then, to trust? Can I challenge you to have a little more faith?
God is a good father. He knows what he’s doing. He can see things you can’t. He will work all things together for your good and his glory.
I know that’s hard to see. Trust me, I know. But it truly is the ultimate reality. Despite what we think or feel.
Thanking God today, after reading your article, for His wisdom and sovereignty.
We once had a pastor who told us we need to pray before a decision, during the carrying out of the decision, and after we've made the decision. Make prayer our first resource, and not our last resort. In the natural that is SO hard to do! Truly involves training to think that way, instead! I love this reminder that our thoughts are not His (God's) thoughts, and His ways are higher. Sometimes I think wisdom is knowing what we don't know.
Picturing my 7 year old self back talking to Jesus telling Him why He's wrong...a great visual for me! Thank you